Cox Communications resolved a one-day blackout with San Diego, CA, CBS affiliate KFMB-TV, just in time for local subscribers to see the hapless San Diego Chargers lose again to the playoff-bound Oakland Raiders.
“We regret the recent disruption in service and appreciate our customers' patience and support,” Cox said in an emailed statement to FierceCable.
On Friday, MidWest Television, which owned the affiliate, allegedly blacked itself out on Cox systems in the city, with the MSO unwilling to pay what it said was a “1,000 percent” increase in broadcast retransmission fees.
"We know our customers want us to keep CBS 8," Cox spokeswoman Ceanne Guerra told the San Diego Reader. "They pulled their signal when we couldn't reach agreement over the retransmission consent fees."
Guerra also urged Cox customers to visit the MSO’s stores and buy an over-the-air antenna.
Last week, Mediacom spokesman Thomas Larsen suggested that MSOs might consider underwriting a several free months of CBS All Access if and when CBS stations are blacked out in their footprint.
RELATED: Mediacom: If CBS blacks us out, we could give subscribers a $70 gift card, free year of All Access
“CBS 8 is a third generation, family and locally owned CBS affiliated dedicated to serving the San Diego community for 67 years,” KFMB-TV said on its website. “We are working diligently to reach a fair agreement.”